How to change Taskbar size on Windows 11

Windows 11 now has a dedicated Taskbar size setting that lets you change the overall Taskbar size directly from Settings.
Windhawk and ExplorerPatcher remain useful for users who want more Taskbar customization.
The Registry method is deprecated and should no longer be presented as a working way to resize the Taskbar.

I have always found it frustrating that Windows 11 shipped with a redesigned Taskbar but took away one of the simplest customization options, the ability to change its size. For years, if I wanted a smaller or larger Taskbar, I had to rely on Registry tweaks or third-party tools.

That finally changes with the September 2026 Security Update. Windows 11 now includes a dedicated Taskbar size setting, giving me a straightforward way to change the overall size of the Taskbar directly from the Settings app. No Registry edits, unsupported tweaks, or additional software are required.

The new setting is also more useful because Microsoft has separated the Taskbar’s overall size from the “Show smaller app icons” option. That setting only makes the app icons smaller, while “Taskbar size” changes the Taskbar’s overall height and footprint.

For me, this is one of those small changes that makes Windows 11 feel considerably more flexible. The Taskbar takes up a surprising amount of space, especially on a laptop, and being able to shrink it without hacking the operating system is long overdue.

However, the built-in option isn’t the end of the story. If I want to go beyond the three sizes Microsoft provides, tools such as Windhawk and ExplorerPatcher still offer considerably more Taskbar customization.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to change the Taskbar size using the new Windows 11 setting. I’ll also cover the alternative methods for users who want more control over the Taskbar’s appearance and behavior.

Warning: These are third-party apps that have been designed to modify the behavior of the operating system. They do not have any guarantees. Use these apps at your own risk. You have been warned. It’s important to use only one method. If you want to change the application, undo the changes and remove the app first. If the clock is not showing correctly, consider hiding it from the Taskbar.

Change Taskbar size on Windows 11 from Settings
Change Taskbar size on Windows 11 from Windhawk
Change Taskbar size on Windows 11 from ExplorerPatcher
Change Taskbar size on Windows 11 from Scale settings

Change Taskbar size on Windows 11 from Settings

To make the Taskbar smaller or larger on Windows 11, follow these steps:

Open Settings on Windows 11.
Click on Personalization.
Click the Taskbar tab.
Click the Taskbar behaviors setting.
(Option 1) Select the Small option in the “Taskbar size” setting to make the Taskbar and icons smaller.
(Option 2) Select the Default option in the “Taskbar size” setting to restore the larger Taskbar and icons.
(Option 3) Choose the “Always” option in the “Show smaller taskbar buttons” setting to show a smaller Taskbar with smaller icons.
(Option 4) Choose the “When taskbar is full” option in the “Show smaller taskbar buttons” settings to maintain the original size, then make the Taskbar smaller when it’s full to create more space.
(Option 5) Choose Never in the “Show smaller taskbar buttons” setting to keep the original Taskbar size.

Once you complete the steps, the Taskbar will reflect the size you set on the Settings page.

Smaller vs taller Taskbar / Image: Mauro Huculak

Change Taskbar size on Windows 11 from Windhawk

Once you install the Windhawk application, you can use it to download the extension that lets you customize the Taskbar interface.

1. Install Windhawk

To install Windhawk on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to install Windhawk and press Enter:
```
winget install --id RamenSoftware.Windhawk
```

Once you complete the steps, the app will install on Windows 11.

2. Change Taskbar from Windhawk

To change the size of the Taskbar with the Windhawk app, use these steps:

Open Windhawk.
Click the Explore button in the top-right corner.
Search for “Taskbar height and icon size” and click the Details button.
Click the Install button.
Click the “Accept Risk and Install” button.
Click the Settings tab.
Set the “Icon size” to 16.
Set the “Taskbar height” to 34 to make the Taskbar smaller.
Click the Save settings button.

After you complete the steps, the settings will apply, making the Taskbar smaller on the Windows 11 desktop.

If you change your mind, you can revert the changes with the same instructions, but in steps 7 and 8, set the icon size to 24 and the Taskbar height to 48. You can also click the “Remove” button to delete the extension from the Windhawk application, which will also restore the default settings.

Change Taskbar size on Windows 11 from ExplorerPatcher

After you install the ExplorerPatcher application, you can change the size of the Taskbar.

1. Install ExplorerPatcher

To install ExplorerPatcher on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
Type the following command to install ExplorerPatcher and press Enter:
```
winget install --id valinet.ExplorerPatcher
```

After you complete the steps, the app will install on Windows 11 and, by default, will put the Taskbar at the top of the screen.

2. Change ExplorerPatcher from ExplorerPatcher

To change the size of the Taskbar with the ExplorerPatcher app, use these steps:

Open Start.
Search for ExplorerPatcher and click the top result to open the Properties (ExplorerPatcher) interface.
Click on Taskbar.
Change the “Taskbar icon size” to “Small” to make the interface smaller.
(Optional) Change the “Primary taskbar location on screen” to “Bottom,” “Top,” or the position to place the Taskbar.
Click the Restart File Explorer option in the bottom-left corner to apply the changes.

Once you complete the steps, ExplorerPatcher will adjust the Taskbar size based on your configuration.

To revert changes made in the “Properties (ExplorerPatcher)” interface, select the “Large” option for the “Taskbar icon side” setting.

Change Taskbar size on Windows 11 from Scale settings

If you want to change the Taskbar size but mean you want the items on the desktop, including the Taskbar, to be smaller or larger, you can change the scale settings on Windows 11. Also, if you don’t want to install third-party apps, this is one of the best options for making the Taskbar smaller or larger.

To resize the Taskbar by changing the scale settings on Windows 11, use these steps:

Open Settings.
Click on System.
Click the Display page on the right side.
Choose the scaling size (100%, 125%, 150, or 175%) with the “Scale” setting under the “Scale & layout” section.

After you complete the steps, the Taskbar will reflect the new size along with text, apps, and other items on the desktop. You can also choose a custom scaling setting to set the Taskbar to a specific size.

Purefinotech’s Take

I think Microsoft was overdue to add a proper Taskbar size setting to Windows 11. I’ve used the Registry and third-party tools over the years for changes like this, but resizing something as basic as the Taskbar shouldn’t require either.

I also like that the company separated the Taskbar size from the app icon size. That gives users a little more control without turning the Settings app into another collection of complicated options.

I’d use the built-in setting before reaching for Windhawk or ExplorerPatcher. Those tools are still useful when I want deeper customization, but for simply making the Taskbar smaller, I’d rather use a setting Microsoft actually supports. It’s a small change, but it removes one more reason to rely on workarounds.

What are your thoughts about this new feature on Windows 11? Let me know in the comments.

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